NEWS RELEASE
WES BRENNAN CONSTRUCTION BANTAM ROYALS
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The Wes Brennan Construction Orillia Royals went undefeated through five games this weekend to capture the bantam division title at their home tournament, the Orillia Open.
It was the Royals' first tournament win of the season and the first time that a home squad has captured the title at this event.
The Royals started the weekend on Friday with a dominating 14-4 victory over Collingwood. Whyatt Winkel earned the victory by pitching four innings, giving up one run. Ben Barzo reached base three times in the victory while Chase Brennan and Max Rutherford both went deep, hitting their first homers of the season.
On Saturday morning the Royals stormed back from a 4-1 deficit in the fourth with 17 unanswered runs en route to a 'mercy' victory over the Kitchener Panthers. Owen Buckland went 4-for-4 in the win while Nolan MacNeal launched his first homer of the year - a grand slam. Teddy McCollum Kuntz hit two triples and a double while knocking in six runs in the win. Kobe Geofroy captured the victory on the mound for the Royals.
On Saturday afternoon the Royals again needed to overcome a 4-1 deficit once again to tie the game. That's when Justin Stopay slugged a solo home run to provide the difference needed to give the Royals the 5-4 victory. Jhett Winkel was the offensive leader for the Royals going 3-for-3, scoring two runs while Owen Kaczanowski pitched very well in relief to hold down the victory.
The Royals finished first in Pool B for the round robin and faced Oakville A’s in the semi finals on Sunday morning. The teams remained tied 1-1 after a quick three innings but the Royals offence exploded in the fourth and fifth en route to an 11-1 victory. Justin Stopay and Jhett Winkel lead the offence, each going 3 for 3 in the game. Owen Buckland drove in three runs as well for the Royals. Kobe Geofroy was named player of the game for his outstanding start on the mound.
That victory put Orillia into the finals against the also undefeated Beaver Valley River Rats on a sunny Sunday for the championship. Orillia jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first after Kaczanowski doubled to cash in McCollum-Kuntz and Stopay. The Royals quickly spoiled the lead, however, making four errors in the second, allowing five Rats runs to score, marring some great pitching by Whyatt Winkel.
The Royals struggled to score runs against the Rats' second pitcher until the sixth when Kaczanowski, J. Winkel, Rutherford, Brennan and Macneal all strung together hits to bring the Royals to within one. Then, Kaden Taylor stepped up with a monster two-out hit to tie the game for the Royals. The comeback was made possible due to an incredible relief pitching performance by Max Rutherford, who pitched five hitless innings with 10 strike-outs.
The game went into an extra inning where the pitch count rules forced a pitching change and the Royals feasted on the new Rats reliever, scoring six runs which was more than enough for the un-hittable Rutherford to close out the game. Kaczanowski was named player of the game with an incredible four-hit performance.
The Royals resume their season where they currently sit in third place this Wednesday in Bolton. The next home action for the local squad is Thursday at 8:30 p.m. vs Thornhill at the Jerry Udell diamond at Tudhope Park.
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